2008 CHINA SEMINAR
Covering the Olympics?
Check out our 2008 China Seminar podcasts

Just in time for the start of the 2008 Olympic Games this Friday, podcasts are now available via iTunes from Religion Newswriters' May seminar, "Covering China, Religion & Human Rights."

That program featured six experts of Chinese culture, politics and religion. They included: Fenggang Yang, Carol Hamrin, Ming Wan, Stephen Angle, Bob Dietz and Robert A.F. Thurman.

For help downloading the files, please contact Tiffany at McCallen@RNA.org.

PRE-CONFERENCE RAFFLE
Honey, Banks win raffle tickets

Congratulations to Charles Honey of The Grand Rapids Press and Adelle Banks of Religion News Service, who won this year's RNA pre-conference raffle items.

One will take home a Segway tour for two of D.C. landmarks and the other will receive admission for two to the just-opened Newseum.

All proceeds from the raffle benefit the RNA Conference Scholarship fund.

2008 RNA CONFERENCE
Hotel selling out fast for DC Conference

• REGISTRATION • HOTEL • RAFFLES/SILENT AUCTION • PRE-CONFERENCE PROGRAMMING • CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIPS • ADVERTISING/SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES • 2008 SPONSORS & EXHIBITORS

Don't wait another day to make your hotel reservations for the 2008 RNA Conference in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18–21 (pre-conference programming begins Sept. 17).

The RNA room block at the Hamilton Crowne Plaza is already sold out Tuesday–Thursday, Sept. 17–19. Several dozen rooms are still available for Friday & Saturday (Sept. 20 & 21) at our low rate of $189/night for a single or double, plus taxes. This rate is only guaranteed until Aug. 15, and if rooms in our block are still available.

To make a reservation call the Crowne Plaza directly at 800-263-9802.

Anyone interested in sharing a room should contact Michelle Stacho, Stacho@RNA.org, 614-891-9001, ext. 4#. She'll pass along your information to others who have requested roommates.

RNA TRAINING
Pa. workshop to cover religion, politics & pop culture

Mark your calendars now for a FREE seminar on covering religion, politics and pop culture, to be held Sept. 2, 2008, in Harrisburg, Pa.

Religion Newswriters and the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association will offer a two-part workshop for reporters, editors and producers who want to improve their coverage of the faith factor in today’s stories. Topics and skills to be covered include: religion and politics, with an emphasis on the November election; religion and popular culture; developing the local, local, local story that includes the big picture; nuancing coverage of faith.

The workshops are FREE and include a box lunch. Register in advance by calling Bev Hendry at 717-703-3003, or e-mailing her at beverlyh@pa-news.org. MORE